What will your story be?
Portsmouth is for people who want a story worth telling. Our students come from all walks of life. What unites them is that at Portsmouth they discovered what they were capable of.
Read their journeys and see where a degree from Portsmouth could take you.
Undergraduate student stories
Sammy Zucker – BSc (Hons) Social Work
Moving from the USA to study at Portsmouth, Sammy discovered a new worldview that will help her change lives as a social worker.
Nic Whiteley – BSc (Hons) Social Work
Studying social work as a mature student, Nic learned a lot about herself while getting ready for a rewarding career.
Finola Elmes – BSc (Hons) Criminology and Criminal Justice (Distance Learning)
Finola found part-time distance learning a perfect way to refocus her career, with plenty of practical work experience opportunities.
Evgenia Georgieva: You can thrive academically and create lasting connections with like-minded individuals
Evgenia says the teaching and clinical experience is excellent on her Dental Hygiene degree at Portsmouth. Find out why.
Christopher Fisher: I wanted to study a subject that would challenge me and allow me to see applications of maths in the real world
Christopher combined his interest in maths and space with MPhys Physics with Astrophysics and Cosmology, and took an industrial placement year to build his experience.
Cerys Coppins: Portsmouth is such a wonderful place to live while you're studying
Cerys from Cornwall tells us why she chose to study BA (Hons) Musical Theatre at the University of Portsmouth
Samantha Chihuri: Studying here gave me the confidence I needed
Discover how BA (Hons) International Relations student Samantha’s confidence-building university experience supported her personal and professional goals.
Megan Cato: My placement was life-changing
From the perfect placement to first class honours, BSc (Hons) Criminology with Psychology student Megan takes us on her inspirational university journey.
Petar Ganov: My passion for languages helped me to study abroad
During his year abroad, BA (Hons) Applied Languages student Petar experienced a whole new world which allowed him to grow both personally and professionally.
Sára Kozáková: Taking a passion for languages abroad
BA (Hons) Applied Languages student Sára found her second home here at the University of Portsmouth.
Niamh McEnery-Cartwright: My internship helped me obtain my dream job
Niamh’s passion for forensic science, developed during her BSc (Hons) Criminology and Forensic Studies degree, allowed her to bag her dream job.
Sanjeevan Ananthasigamany: Academically, my biggest achievement has been obtaining and completing an industrial placement at the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL)
Sanjeevan’s degree and industrial placement year have been highly transferable, which helped him find a job at Airbus
Livia Fierro: I feel like I’ve found a University that cares about me and who I am
Livia secured a place on her BA (Hons) International Development Studies degree through Clearing.
Eleonora Chioatto: I'm studying at the Justice Institute of British Columbia, before returning to Portsmouth
Building industry experience and knowledge was a key consideration for Eleonora when choosing her BSc (Hons) Criminology with Psychology degree.
Charles Dalby: My four years at university transformed me
Charles’s time at university studying BA (Hons) Childhood and Youth Studies with Psychology helped him learn how to advocate for himself and begin a career he feels passionate about.
Anjali Kugarajh: My wish to become an astronaut grew into a wish to study and research the universe
Anjali joined our seaside city from Norway to study MPhys Physics, Astrophysics and Cosmology.
Kristie Thorne: My placement gave me a career goal
BSc (Hons) Criminology and Forensic Studies student Kristie completed a placement as a forensic technician, which developed her knowledge and prepared her for her future career.
Simon Ian Scully: Portsmouth is a fantastic place to live, explore and study
Simon's BSc (Hons) Product Design and Innovation degree helped him to develop both technically and creatively, as well as to build a great portfolio of projects after he graduated.
Emily Merrit: I found a course and a career where I can use my creativity alongside my problem solving skills
Emily's BSc (Hons) Television and Broadcasting degree and careers support helped her to develop her goal of working in audio and visuals for events.
Chris Choy: At Portsmouth there are always people here to help
Chris made the most of every opportunity while studying BSc (Hons) Mathematics, and graduated with the tools to succeed.
Beulah Waritimi: If I was going to study a subject I loved, I was going to have to apply through Clearing
Beulah changed subjects after studying sciences at A-Level and secured a place in Clearing on BA (Hons) International Relations and Languages.
Kunwen Chen: After seeing how nice the city and staff were, I realised that the University of Portsmouth was a really good choice for me
Kunwen discovered new filmmaking opportunities through a study exchange between Beijing and Portsmouth on BA (Hons) Film Production.
Holly Esson: I found out about Foundation Degrees, a kind-of ‘pre-degree’ course where you can top-up your skills and progress to a full degree afterwards
After being disappointed in her A-Level results, Holly studied a foundation degree and went on to study MEng Mechanical Engineering.
Aurora Way: It was the first time I voiced that I was a female artist and really believed it
Aurora studied BA (Hons) Photography and developed her technical skills and confidence in her own artwork, which prepared her for her career after uni.
Cristian Ionut Necula: I was keen to participate in as many projects as I could to really get the most out of my degree
Cristian worked on projects in the UK and abroad during his BA (Hons) Film Production degree.
Imogene Goodman: I now recognise how rewarding broadening my creative gaze can be
Imogene explored a range of skills and topics to find her passions during her BA (Hons) Animation degree.
Lisa Van Hees: My dissertation combined everything I’d learnt in film and allowed me to become a more established writer
Lisa moved to the UK to build on their existing film knowledge and develop creative writing skills with BA (Hons) Film Industries and Creative Writing.
Madison Ford: My course has really allowed me to grow as a person and as a creative professional
Madison studied BA (Hons) Illustration, and used her placement year experience to improve her final year and freelance work.
Sohavi Kaur Bhamber: The highlight of my course has been going on placement
Sohavi studied BA (Hons) Architecture and Interior Design and worked with the Creative Careers team to secure a placement with RPA Group.
Daniella Faulkner: I went to Luxembourg with my co-worker to start the final part of our project on placement
Daniella's placement helped her become more decisive, independent and confident in my own abilities during her BA (Hons) Business and Management degree.
Sam Stenton: My placement transformed my final year
Sam's degree led to a placement experience that enhanced his understanding when he studied BSc (Hons) Computer Science.
Shashi Kaur: I never imagined I would be capable of achieving so much in such a short amount of time
While studying LLB (Hons) Law with us, Shashi was elected Secretary and then President of the Law Society.
Josiane Wilson: I wanted to take some time abroad before starting full-time employment
Josiane spent a year in France as an au pair and studied BSc (Hons) Psychology.
Oliver Whitehead: I’ve worked with the University as a freelance photographer
Oliver's BA (Hons) Photography degree gave him the confidence to pursue a photography career in London.
Thomas Best: It’s been quite challenging to balance a job, coursework and a personal practice, but the results have been worth the effort
Thomas balanced his job, coursework and personal practice to pursue his academic goals in BA (Hons) Photography.
Katie Purkis: I found the tutors so welcoming and understanding
Katie's BA (Hons) Illustration degree allowed her flourish and find her illustrative style after dealing with with loss during her A-levels.
Tranee Pope: I developed my skills as a musician, beat maker and producer in college; but I knew I needed to develop my skills in the technical aspects of music
Tranee's BSc (Hons) Music and Sound Technology degree is helping her pursue a goal of starting a record label and increasing diversity in the industry.
Coline Lejeune: It wasn’t an easy decision to go back to university at 25
After completing a law degree, Coline took some time to decide what to do next. Coline's love for cinema steered her to BA (Hons) Film Industries.
Venus Haochun Chen: This university made me the person I want to be
Venus's BA (Hons) Fashion and Textiles degree led her to the Batsford Prize shortlist and a feature in Graduate Fashion Week's Talent of Tomorrow photoshoot.
Katie Duxbury: Without my placement year, I don’t think I would have as much certainty about where I want my career to go
Katie's BA (Hons) Media Studies degree and placement experience led her to winning an award for Best Placement Student of the Year 2018.
Pia Ewers: My accredited course combines practical journalistic skills with theoretical knowledge
Pia's international experience gave her the opportunity to develop as a person and a professional while studying BA (Hons) Journalism with Media Studies.
Alex Saunders: Getting to put the skills I’ve gained into practice has allowed me to see how much I’ve learnt
Alex's time studying BA (Hons) Journalism at Portsmouth taught him to see the world in a different way.
Emily Haysom: I was accepted for a year’s internship at The Walt Disney Company
Hear from Emily Haysom, BA (Hons) Media and Digital Practice graduate who completed a placement year to boost her studies.
Adele Miller: University has taught me to trust my gut instinct
Adele followed her passions and graduated in BA (Hons) Interior Architecture and Design.
Emma Elson: After the first Open Day I knew that this was where I wanted to study
Emma overcame her fear of moving away from home to study BA (Hons) Film Production and pursue her goal of becoming a successful film producer.
Lorna Tan: The course pushed my skills to a higher level and showed me what it takes to be a professional animator
Lorna's BA (Hons) Animation degree led her to work with the BBC as a professional animator.
Tyler Truett-Bond: I started exploring how I could combine my passion for video games and Esports with my future development
Tyler's BSc (Hons) Computer Games Enterprise degree gave him experiences that influenced his career path.
Ben Willets: There’s no doubt I’ve changed since starting university
Ben moved to Portsmouth to study BA (Hons) Journalism and combine his love of sports with his future career.
Javier Dieguez: I wanted to work in games since about 15
Javier learnt software engineering principles and developed his passion for game programming on his BSc (Hons) Computer Games Technology degree.
Glen Wicken: University made me realise that I can be entrepreneurial and not be afraid to give things a go
Glen transformed his career and set up his own business with his BSc (Hons) Product Design and Innovation degree when he returned to education after a brain injury.
Rob Milne: The University really encourages personal development — and not just academic achievement
Rob's accredited BSc (Hons) Property Development degree opened doors for his future and led to his interest in property law.
Amber Burton: The part of my degree that I enjoyed the most was being inspired by my lecturers daily
Amber's BSc (Hons) Mathematics with Statistics degree helped her to secure her dream job before graduation.
Adele Gibb: We race the Formula Student Car in July and spend the year designing, manufacturing and testing
Adele's MEng Mechanical Engineering degree set her up for a Chartership in engineering.
Savannah Pascall: When I was in college, I used to feel quite lost. I don’t feel like that here.
Savannah put her passion for computing and projects into practice on her BEng (Hons) Electronic Engineering degree.
Postgraduate student stories
Charmaine Lim - A Master’s for my ideal career in elite sport performance
Strength, Conditioning & Rehabilitation graduate, Charmaine Lim, shares the impact her MSc made on her career journey.
Tolani Olabamiji – PhD Architecture, Interiors and Urbanism
When Tolani was considering where to pursue a research degree, it was clear Portsmouth is the ideal place
Andrew Nomoja: The University helped me get to the point where I really consider myself as successful
Andrew's PhD in Physics helped him become an outstanding educator, with the course flexibility supporting his part-time work as a Physics teacher at an independent school.
Arthur Tolley: I'm confident I made the right decision choosing to pursue my PhD here
Arthur's PhD in Astrophysics and Cosmology is opening doors for him to become a published researcher.
Baboo Kunalsing Askurn: I chose Portsmouth because of the high employability prospects
Baboo's LLM Corporate Governance and Law/Grad CG degree led him to a graduate role in Corporate and International Banking at Barclays.
Beatrice Ashton-Lelliott: My PhD supervisor is one of the only other people in the world who has the knowledge and experience necessary to supervise my work
Beatrice’s PhD in English Literature led to funded research trips and the confidence to explore the impact of her work.
Charles Hervey: The University has helped me take up opportunities and been there for me when I need assistance
Charles’ MSc Sports Performance Master’s has helped him work toward his goal of working overseas in youth development.
Charles Oduk II: I enjoyed my undergraduate degree at Portsmouth so much that I wanted to come back to continue my studies
Charles returned to Portsmouth for his MSc Digital Business Management Master’s after completing BA (Hons) in Business Management and Entrepreneurship, and is building his skills to pursue his goals as an entrepreneur.
Conner Murphy: My degree apprenticeship has been a great way of studying while still working full time
Conner built a solid foundation for his career by growing his knowledge and understanding with our Postgraduate Engineering Degree Apprenticeship (Engineering Competence) PgDip.
David Jones: I want to finish my PhD and make a difference to ocean conservation
David started working on the ocean plastic pollution issue in 2009, and started their PhD in Earth and Environmental Sciences after completing MSc Coastal and Marine Resource Management with us.
H Plane: What's special about the MA Graphic Design course is that I was able to join it despite doing a different undergraduate degree
H's MA Graphic Design Master's gave them the freedom to explore new topics and become a confident designer.
Hannah Coombs: Portsmouth helped me to build the confidence to not fall straight into a career, and to follow paths what I enjoy
PhD in Literary Studies student, Hannah Coombs, went from not knowing what she wanted to do after uni, to finding the perfect path to research.
Hasan Altooq: I've lived in and visited many cities across the UK but never found "Home" in any city other than Portsmouth
After studying MSc Logistics and Supply Chain Management here Hassan joined us for a PhD in Mathematics, thanks to our inspirational academics and available support.
Hayley Irvine: The simulation suite facilities are second-to-none
Hayley's MSc Physician Associate Studies Master's led her to achieve her goal of becoming a physician associate.
Jakub Budzioch: From the first day, my course concentrated on the impact of digital technology on the business world
The pandemic led Jakub to re-examine his career path and make the most of his MSc Digital Business Management studies.
Jeremy Ali: Portsmouth seemed to be uniquely centred around student health and well-being
Support from both his employer and the University of Portsmouth have been key in enabling Jeremy to gain a first-class Master of Architecture and Professional Practice (MArch) degree.
Jon Brooks: This Master’s has assisted me in progressing my career
A flexible and supportive approach to learning has enabled Jon to achieve an MA Business Management Master’s degree as well as progressing his career.
Joshua Mason: Portsmouth is one of the few universities where my course is professionally accredited
Joshua's MSc Building Information Management Master's gave him the support to develop his curiosity in his field.
Mircea Iustin Dobrean: I’ve learnt how to be a professional, and what it means to collaborate with the local community
Mircea’s MA Architecture Master’s gave him the freedom to shape himself as an industry professional.
Nic Hesse – MBA Strategic Leadership (Senior Leader Apprenticeship)
Nic’s Master’s gave him the confidence to lead his corporate division’s strategic planning process, a role previously performed by someone much higher up in the organisation.
Rachel Dominey: The University offered me courses that can be applied in a work-based environment
Rachel's Professional Doctorate in Health Science allowed her to apply her research in a clinical setting while working for the NHS.
Roxanne Smith: You are never alone with services like Wellbeing, the Student Finance Centre and Careers and Employability
Roxanne's MSc Health Psychology Master's showed her how much she can achieve by stepping out of her comfort zone.
Rubie Targema-Takema: Pursuing a postgraduate degree in technology equips me with the skills, network and information to solve real problems
PhD in Computing student, Rubie Targema-Takema followed her passion for technology and her dreams to implement change in the world.
Russell Moreland: I felt like the ambitions for the course matched my career ambitions
Russell's MArch Architecture Master's developed his voice and confidence in his role in the architecture industry.
Samuel Brooks: I chose to do a postgraduate degree to complement the practical knowledge I'd gained in the workplace
Sam’s MA Conservation Architecture Master’s helped him explore his passion for conservation architecture and inspire his future research.
Serena Cunsolo: My research will contribute to a better understanding of how efficiently different types of wastewater systems remove microplastics
Serena's Civil Engineering PhD is helping her promote technologies that prevent microplastics from entering our oceans and research the environmental impact of plastic pollution.
Sophie Quintin: I have a fantastic supervisory team, love the sea and all things maritime so I'm very happy living and studying in Portsmouth!
Sophie's PhD in International Relations exposed her to a vibrant research community and gave her a drive to make a difference to ocean governance.
Swapnil Upadhyay: It took time to adjust to a new culture and education system - but Portsmouth made this transition easier for me
Swapnil's experience as an international student saw him overcome challenges and gain hands-on experience in Civil Engineering with MSc Construction Project Management.
Toni James: Students are not only taught academically, but also trained for a future career
Toni’s MSc Economics, Finance And Banking Master’s prepared her for the start of a new career in corporate employment.
Kaouthar Stambouli: At Portsmouth, I’ve learnt excellent teamwork skills, excellent practical skills and great theoretical knowledge
Kaouthar's MSc Electronic Engineering Master's gave her the practical experience to develop her knowledge and confidence in her subject.
Gold rating in national assessment of teaching excellence
Our TEF Gold rating ranks Portsmouth amongst the top universities in the UK for teaching.